3rd Indian Motor Brigade

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 3rd Indian Motor Brigade
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dates= 1940 - 1943
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allegiance= British Crown
branch= British Indian Army
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size= Brigade
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battles=Battle of Gazala
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The 3rd Indian Motor Brigade was a unit of the British Indian Army, formed in 1940 as part of the 31st Indian Armoured Division. In its short history one of its regiments would be involved in the seige of Tobruk and the brigade was twice overrun during the Western Desert Campaign by units of the Afrika Corps and the Italian forces.

Early History

The Brigade was formed from three British Indian Army cavalry regiments each equipped with two squadrons of the Indian Armoured Carrier and one Anti-Tank Squadron. Mackenzie (1951), p. 71] The brigade also had an Indian Field Artillery regiment, a Indian Engineer regiment and a Anti-Tank company. As part on the 31st Indian Armoured Division the brigade was attached to the Tenth Army (United Kingdom) and served in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and in India but never saw any combat until it was dispatched to the western desert to help counter the advance of the Afrika Corps. [India’s Armour.By Mike Bennighof] [cite web|title=avalancepress|url=http://www.avalanchepress.com/IndianArmor.php]

Western Desert Campaign

The 3rd Indian Motor Brigade due to the situation in Western Desert Campaign was detatched from the 31st Indian Armoured Division and sent to Egypt, in its first engagement against the Afrika Corps at Mechili 6 April 1941, the brigade had been under bombardment all day when at 1800 hrs a German staff officer appeared and demanded the brigade surrender which was rejected out of hand. [ Tobruk 1941 By Jon Latimer, Jim Laurier, David Chandler. p39 ] The next day two further requests to surrender were received fom the Germans which were also rejected, the second note being signed by Erwin Rommel himself. [Tobruk 1941 By Jon Latimer, Jim Laurier, David Chandler p39] when the brigade did withdraw it had one complete squadron of the 2nd Lancers and most of the brigade support units captured [Tobruk 1941 By Jon Latimer, Jim Laurier, David Chandler p40] The brigade was then attached to the 9th Australian Division and part of the brigade, the 18th King Edward's Own Cavalry, was trapped with the garrison of Tobruk in the siege from April 1941.cite web|title=North Africa - May 41| work=British & Commonwealth Orders of Battle website| first=Steve| last=Rothwell| url=http://www.rothwell.force9.co.uk/NA150541.htm| accessdate=2008-07-10]

Battle of Gazala

In the Battle of Gazala May 1942, the Brigade was attached to the 7th Armoured Division [ Rommel's Desert War By Samuel W. Mitcham, Samuel W. Mitcham, Jr. p47 ] and positioned south of the 1st Free French Brigade and the Bir Hakeim box. The Italian Ariete Division supported by units of the 21st Panzer Division attacked over the night of the 26 - 27 May.

The brigade signaled The whole bloody Afrika Korps is drawn up in front of us like a bloody review. [cite web|title=usswashington.com|url=http://usswashington.com/worldwar2plus55/dl27ma42.htm] In the fierce battle that followed the Brigade fought an effective delaying action on the left wing of the Eighth Army before being overrun by 0600 hrs ['Loyalty & Honour' - The Indian Army September 1939 - August 1947 (3 Vols) by Chris Kempton. Military Press 2003.] In the process the 3rd Indian Motor Brigade was virtually destroyed, but it knocked out some 56 German tanks, of which at least 46 were attributed to their artillery regiment the 2nd Indian Field Regiment. [The Spectator,Dec 14-21, 1996 by Stephen Glover]

Afterwards the brigade was withdrawn to Iran to meet up with the rest of 31st Armoured Division and in January 1943, the three cavalry units were repdeployed back to India being replaced by three Gurkha infantry battalions. [cite web|title=rothwell|url=http://www.rothwell.force9.co.uk/NA150541.htm] At the end of the month the brigade was renamed as the 43rd Indian Infantry Brigade (Lorried). This brigade and its three Gurkha battalions were sent to Italy in mid 1944 as an Independent brigade. [citeweb|title=rothwell|url=http://www.rothwell.force9.co.uk/NA150541.htm]

Order of Battle

*Brigade Commander A.A.E. Filose
**2nd Lancers (Gardner's Horse)Mackenzie (1951), p. 71]
**11th Prince Albert Victor's Own Cavalry (Frontier Force)
**18th King Edward's Own Cavalry
**3rd Indian Motor Brigade Anti Tank Company. – 16 x 2# ATG
**2nd Field Regiment, Indian Artillery – 16 x 25# Field Gun
**31st Bengal Field Squadron, Indian Engineers

*after January 1943
**2/6th Gurkha Rifles
**2/8th Gurkha Rifles
**2/10th Gurkha Rifles

References